The EU agreed to a Brexit Extension Through the End of October as a compromise between the lengthy extension that European Commission President Donald Tusk wanted and the short extension that French President Emanuel Macron wanted.
The Wall Street Journal reports EU Leaders Agree to Delay Brexit Until Oct. 31.
The decision further extends a torturous process that began with the U.K.’s June 2016 referendum decision to leave the EU and that has divided the country’s people and Parliament. A deal Mrs. May finalized with the EU in November has been rejected three times by lawmakers, and no majority has been found for any alternatives.
The decision, reached at a summit that ended in the early hours of Thursday morning, was a typical EU compromise, this time between member governments that favored a short extension and those that wanted a much longer one.
Donald Tusk, the European Council president who presides over EU summits, ended the meeting with a message for his “British friends.”
“This extension is as flexible as I expected and a little bit shorter than I expected but it’s still enough to find a best possible solution,” he said. “Please do not waste this time.”
Leaders were divided. A majority, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, favored an extension until at least the end of the year. A smaller group led by French President Emmanuel Macron opposed an extension beyond the end of June, arguing it was time for the EU to draw the curtain on the Brexit drama and focus on the bloc’s myriad challenges and priorities.
The ridiculous saga continues.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
How can something as clumsy, complicated and poorly designed as the EU possibly survive?
….because the worthless, parasitic freeloaders, mostly failed national politicians, won t let go of their cushy, overpaid jobs….and there s also the counterfeiting ECB keeping the shambles together with free money for virtualy bankrupt banks, big corporations and their CEO s making millions on a monthly basis….The rich and wealthy DO like the EU…..
And, because the dupes have been so thoroughly indoctrinated into bent over pliancy, that they can be relied on to, no matter what, bow down once Top Hobgoblin is played: “The System Will Crash!”
Never mind “The System” being nothing whatsoever more than a slave plantation, with them the slaves.
The Compromise was October? What years?
Left blank, to be filled in when needed.
Satisfying no one?
The EU insiders pretending to be indifferent about the UK leaving were well satisfied. Another big lunch, the UK remains and its taxpayers money keeps flooding in, what is not to like for them?
Gradually and surely the ruling class dissolves away the referendum result.
That’s want “making deals” and “negotiating” are all about. Instead of just walking out yesterday with a raised middle finger, damn the torpedoes, we’ll adapt and good bye! Which is how an electorate of non sheep would have demanded it be done. But, of course, the well indoctrinated dupes fell for the “Dear Leader needs to negotiate a ‘good’ deal” tripe yet again…..
“Oh dear, this absurd business of democracy and voting has really gone too far.
The voters have it wrong every time now.
It should have been done away with a long time ago.”
“My how the times have changed! Recall the good ‘ole days when we had Obama dancing on our string and he, in turn, had the people dancing on his string! Things were so much simpler then…people believed the mainstream media, Hollywood was fully on our side, and the world stood united for change. Sigh…”
They will delay Brexit forever if they can. The big piggies like the way they have things now and the serfs be damned. They figure they can quell the voter’s outrage with some new, carefully groomed candidates who will lie as instructed to keep UK in the EUSSR.
It is impressive how lawmakers end up in completely the wrong place by continually taking “a step in the right direction.”
It will be no Brexit Mish! It is absolutely obvious! I believe it would be more interesting for you to predict how Government will accomplish UK stay in EUSSR!
And if there nominally is one, it will be in name only. Like Trump’s NAFTAxit.
Exactly!
Icebergs still lurk in the northern Atlantic.
Titanic.